Helen Mirren, Sean Bean Join Sky Series

Helen Mirren is set to star as the titular 18th century Russian monarch in HBO and Sky’s upcoming four-part miniseries “Catherine the Great”. Filming begins later this year.

Written by Nigel Williams (“Elizabeth I”) and directed by Philip Martin (“Prime Suspect”), the miniseries looks at Catherine at the end of her reign and her affair with Grigory Potemkin. Mirren and Martin will executive produce along with David M. Thompson and Charlie Pattinson.

Sky has also given the order for the UK-set, street racing-themed series “Curfew” and have set Sean Bean, Adrian Lester, Robert Glenister, Phoebe Fox, Malachi Kirby, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Rose Williams, Elijah Rowen and Guz Khan to star.

The eight-parter follows car racers who will compete in customized and weaponized vehicles as they race across Britain in an attempt to escape the control of a totalitarian government.